Secure memory card with life cycle phases

Abstract

A secure memory card with encryption capabilities comprises various life cycle states that allow for testing of the hardware and software of the card in certain of the states. The testing mechanisms are disabled in certain other of the states thus closing potential back doors to secure data and cryptographic keys. Controlled availability and generation of the keys required for encryption and decryption of data is such that even if back doors are accessed that previously encrypted data is impossible to decrypt and thus worthless even if a back door is found and maliciously pried open.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates generally to memory cards and encryption, and in particular to eliminating access to secure data and keys through testing mechanisms in the card. Background technique [0002] Some time ago, a type of smart memory card, commonly referred to as a smart card, was developed and accepted in the market as a form of identification and payment. Smart cards contain a small amount of memory for storing user identification data and for storing transaction related data. Smart cards are also often referred to as chip cards and are used in Japan for various things such as national identification cards and in many places as a type of credit or debit card. To prevent identity theft and other monetary fraud, various chip designs and encryption schemes have been employed in the cards and systems utilizing them. [0003] In designing and manufacturing any type of secure memory card, there are two competing concerns. One concern is to max...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Therefore, it is very costly to manufacture a memory card with a single integrated circuit die that can store a large amount of information (on the order of several gigabytes in 2005 and increasing), and a security system must be developed that employs multiple dies

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